Why Reading is a Great Place to Work and Play

As the capital of the Thames Valley, Reading is a cultural hub, playing host to a thriving arts scene, in-demand dining spots and a wealth of sporting attractions. Its reputation for leisure is underpinned by its eclectic shopping spots and vibrant nightlife. And despite its proximity to London, it’s a destination in its own right than just a commuter hotspot.

Although it has a population of nearly 350,000, Reading isn’t classified as a city but is instead the largest town in England without city status. It’s easy to think of Reading as part of the wider London commuter zone, however, it has a net inward influx of commuters driven by the wealth of big employers in the area, such as Microsoft, Prudential, Deloitte and KPMG. There’s also a wide variety of office space in Reading that supports the needs of every business type.

Reading consistently ranks highly as one of the best places to live and work in the UK when judged on factors such as employment, wellbeing, health and income. This, along with more affordable living costs and office rents than the country’s capital, makes it an increasingly attractive place to live and work. That’s also boosted by the arrival of the Elizabeth Line, with Reading now having direct trains that reach Central London in under an hour.

Travelling in Reading

With excellent transport links by road, rail and air, along with easy access to London, travelling to and around Reading is easy.

Reading trains

Reading Train Station is one of the busiest rail hubs in Britain. There are direct trains from Reading to London Paddington and Waterloo, with the non-stop train to Paddington taking less than 30 minutes. The arrival of Crossrail has boosted the options of commuters further, with six Elizabeth Line trains now passing through the town every hour.

Reading airports

Reading doesn’t have its own airport but with London Heathrow only 25 minutes away, flying to other parts of the UK and around the world for business is a breeze. Luton, Gatwick and London City Airports are also all less than 45 miles away.

Reading buses

The town also has an efficient bus network with several buses per hour running on weekdays on most routes. It’s worth investing in a weekly, monthly or annual pass if you’ll be using the bus to commute to office space in Reading regularly.

Driving in Reading

Traffic in Reading isn’t as bad as it is in London, although the roads in and around the town centre can get congested during peak hours. Many of the office spaces to rent in Reading also come with parking so you can avoid the busy and expensive public parking options. You can also access the motorway network via junction 11 of the M4.

Things To Do In Reading

With the hustle and bustle of every major business centre comes the perception that it lacks personality and charm. However, once you experience Reading’s unique riverside area, you’ll understand why the town has become a major leisure destination in its own right. It has plenty to keep you and your team busy and make the commute to office space in Reading worthwhile.

Museum of English Rural Life

Where better to get away from the stresses and strains of the office than at the Museum of Rural Life, where you can learn everything you need to know about the English countryside and its people. You can enjoy the beautiful gardens during your lunch break free of charge or treat yourself to a cream tea in the cafe.

Kennet and Avon Canal Walk

You can walk the Kennet and Avon Canal Walk all the way from Reading to Bath, although that might be a bit far for a lunchtime stroll. There are also plenty of shorter stretches within easy reach of office space in and around the town centre. You could even take the team out on a canal boat for a bit of water-based team building.

Highclere Castle

As the main location for the filming of the TV show Downtown Abbey, things don’t get much more bucolic than Highclere Castle. Just a 30-minute drive from Reading, the pristine castle and grounds are sure to become a highlight on the Instagram pages of your team.

Best for team building

It might not be the first thing you think about when choosing office space to rent in Reading, but being located in England’s largest town puts the sort of attractions that are primed for team building within easy reach.

The Hexagon

This multi-purpose entertainment venue in the heart of Reading hosts everything from stand-up comedy and rock and pop gigs to classical concerts and opera. Whatever your team are in to, The Hexagon will have something to put a smile on their faces.

Parthian Climbing

Take your team out of their comfort zone and straight up a wall at Parthian Climbing. There are sessions and obstacles for every level of ability.

Best for out-of-office meetings

Making a packed lunch the night before is the sensible thing to do, but with everything from tasty street food to Michelin starred restaurants on your doorstep, you’ll be forgiven for heading out of the office.

Blue Collar

Get your fix of street food right in the heart of Reading town centre. Blue Collar runs every Wednesday and Friday lunchtime and offers everything from inventive vegan options to delicious jerk chicken wraps.

Whittington’s Tea Barge

For an out-of-office meeting with a difference, step aboard Whittingtons Tea Barge for super breakfasts, lunches and delicious cream teas. All food is made fresh to order using locally sourced ingredients, alongside a selection of regularly changing speciality teas from around the world.

Best for wellbeing

One way to attract the best talent and help employees work better is to find an amenity-rich office space in Reading that supports your teams. And with plenty of parks, gardens and some excellent gyms nearby, you’ll have everything you need to keep them happy, healthy and productive.

Reading’s parks and gardens

Christchurch Meadows is a large recreational park that runs alongside the River Thames. With picnic tables, a cycleway and its own boating pool, it’s a great spot to relax and recharge away from the office. Prospect Park is the town’s largest green space. It features a range of sporting facilities, including table tennis tables, tennis courts and basketball courts, and hosts annual events such as the Reading Carnival and a steam fair.

Reading gyms

Escape the pressures of the 9 to 5 at Esprit Wellness & Spa in the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The state-of-the-art gym is the perfect place to work out after a hard day’s work, while the 19-metre indoor pool, sauna and steam rooms help you relax and recharge. David Lloyd Reading has a tremendous range of sporting facilities, including a 25-metre indoor pool, as well as instructor-led group exercise classes ranging from cycling and hard-hitting cardio to yoga and Pilates.